the Aquarium, Beauty Pill, the Dismemberment Plan (09.01.03)

the Band: the Aquarium, Beauty Pill, the Dismemberment Plan
the Date: Monday Sep 1, 2003
the Venue: 9:30 Club (DC)

(Photo credit to Vinka and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/vinka/)

It was Labor Day. Summer was officially over, but there was one night of great music yet to be had.

The Aquarium opened. They were cool. I missed part of their set.

Then Beauty Pill came on. This band is from D.C. and is made up of Chad Clark (vocals/guitar), Rachel Burke (vocals/wurlitzer), Ryan Nelson (drums), Basla Andolsun (bass), and Drew Doucette (guitar). I really liked them. I picked up a couple of their E.P.’s at the merch table.

The Dismemberment Plan was the headliner. D-Plan is another indie rock band from D.C. The band members include Eric Axelson (bass), Jason Caddell (guitar), Joe Easley (drums), and Travis Morrison (vocals/guitar). Back in January, the band announced that they were breaking up. They then went about the country on a farewell tour and they just got back from a quick tour in Japan. This night was their final show, closing out their ten year career. Fittingly, they chose to say goodbye in D.C., at the 9:30 club to a sold-out house of fans. It was awesome. They played an extra-long set and there was a lot of back and forth banter between the crowd and the band that was fun. The band had a ton of energy and clearly was having a great time. They played a fantastic set, closing out with a great version of OK, Joke’s Over and ending the encore with Memory Machine. NICE!

(Photo credit to Vinka and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/vinka/)

Full setlist (not from this show, but from one around this time … sorry this is the best I can do): Do the Standing Still / Following Through / Sentimental Man / Academy Award / The Dismemberment Plan Gets Rich / The Ice of Boston / The First Anniversary of Your Last Phone Call / That’s Where the Party Started / What Do You Want Me to Say? / The City / 8 ½ Minutes / Come Home / Gyroscope / Onward, Fat Girl / Ellen & Ben / You Are Invited / A Life of Possibilities / Back & Forth / One Too Many Blows to the Head / ENCORE / OK, Joke’s Over / Time Bomb / Memory Machine

You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time . . .

Metropolitan, el Guapo, the Dismemberment Plan (05.28.03)

the Band: Metropolitan, el Guapo, the Dismemberment Plan
the Date: Wednesday May 28, 2003
the Venue: Black Cat (DC)

(Photo credit to Andrew Winn and his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/andrewwinn/)

This was a benefit show for Fort Reno. Metropolitan and el Guapo were the opening acts. I missed them, but picked up a couple of Metropolitan CDs at the merch table. Nice stuff … a little bummed I missed them. Note, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists were supposed to open, but Ted was having some voice problems and had to cancel … Metropolitan filled in.

The Dismemberment Plan was the main attraction. D-Plan is an indie rock band from D.C. The band members include Eric Axelson (bass), Jason Caddell (guitar), Joe Easley (drums), and Travis Morrison (vocals and guitar). I caught them almost a year ago in Houston and they rocked. This show was even better. The band was on their last tour after announcing their break-up in January. For this hometown crowd, D-Plan played a super-long set about 100% determined by requests from the audience. It was awesome! My favorite tunes were What Do You Want Me to Say?, Time Bomb, You Are Invited, and Back and Forth.

Full setlist: What Do You Want Me to Say? / Time Bomb / The Face of the Earth / The City / Do the Standing Still / Ellen and Ben / You Are Invited / Girl O’Clock / The Dismemberment Plan Gets Rich / Gyroscope / Tonight We Mean It / Following Through / The Ice of Boston / Close To Me / Bra / That’s When the Party Started / Soon To Be Ex-Quaker / Life of Possibilities / OK, Joke’s Over / ENCORE / Rusty / Back and Forth

What do you want me to say?
What do you want me to do?
To let you know that I do mean it …

Groceries, Division of Laura Lee, the Dismemberment Plan, the (International) Noise Conspiracy (10.28.02)

the Band: Groceries, Division of Laura Lee, the Dismemberment Plan, the (International) Noise Conspiracy
the Date: Monday October 28, 2002
the Venue: the Engine Room (Houston)

(Photo credit to Jaakko Suomalainen and his Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/87903450@N00/)

I decided to go to this show only because I knew of the local band, Groceries. Little did I know that I was about to witness one of the best collection of live acts I’ll ever experience.

Groceries opened the night. They are absolutely the best indie band in Houston. The band is made up of Matt Brownlie (vocals/guitar), Erik Bogle (guitar), Blake Powell (bass), and Thomas Clemmons (drums). They did not disappoint this night. Great opening.

Division of Laura Lee came on next. They are a post-punk band out of Sweden. The members are Hakan Johansson (drums), Per Talberg (guitar/vocals), Jonas Gustafsson (bass/vocals), and David Fransson (guitar vocals). They were wild! Awesome!

(Photo credit to someone on the internet)

The Dismemberment Plan was third. They are an indie band out of Washington, D.C. D-Plan or The Plan is made up of Eric Axelson (bass), Jason Caddell (guitar), Joe Easley (drums), and Travis Morrison (vocals/guitar). I had never heard of these guys before, but they completely rocked the Engine Room. Their stage presence is just awesome. I really liked how they switched up who was playing what during different songs. Who knew that I’d have to go to Houston to find one of the best D.C. bands?

(Photo credit to Shoko Ishikawa and her Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/people/shokoishikawa/)

Finally, the (International) Noise Conspiracy finished off the night. The (International) Noise Conspiracy are the anti-capitalist freedom fighters of the Swedish garage rock revolution. The members are Dennis Lyxzen (vocals), Inge Johansson (bass), Lars Stromberg (guitar), and Ludvig Dahlberg (drums). They were un-freakin-believable! Easily one of the best live acts I’ve seen. My favorite tunes were Smash it Up, Up for Sale, Born into a Mess, and, of course, Capitalism Stole My Virginity. I even loved the propaganda, their best story was about how some right-wing magazine in Sweden ranked the best and worst songs about freedom … the best was some song by the Scorpions … the worst song? … Capitalism Stole My Virginity by the (I)NC! Damn, I wish I were a Communist! Power to the People! Long live the (International) Noise Conspiracy!

Full setlist for the Dismemberment Plan: Gyroscope / Ellen and Ben / Angry Angel / Time Bomb / The Dismemberment Plan Gets Rich / You Are Invited / The Other Side / The City / A Life of Possibilities / OK Jokes Over

Full setlist for the (International) Noise Conspiracy (not from this show, but from a show around this time … best I could do): A Northwest Passage / Bigger Cages, Longer Chains / Up for Sale / Smash it Up / Born into a Mess / Capitalism Stole My Virginity / Will it Ever be Quiet / A New Morning Changing Weather

What have we done? Money’s on the lookout for number 1 . . .